Marker for cylindrical abticles



1949 R. A. PANNIER 2,492,709

MARKER FOR CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 24, 1947 INVENTORI 1641/ 6 4 PQ/V/V/ZE, BY: \fafi H [5 ATTORN EY.

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 ES PATENT OFFICE V MARKER FOR CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Ralph A. Pannier, Pittsburgh,

Pannier Bros. Stamp Company,

of Pennsylvania Pa., assignor to a corporation Application September 24, 1947, Serial No. 775.937 4 Claims. (01. 101-39) This invention relates to an automatic marker for cylindrical articles, such as round bars, pipes, tubes, high pressure gas cylinders and the like.

Cylindrical articles, such as round bars, pipes, tubes, gas cylinders and the like ordinarily must be marked with a plurality of insignia showing grade, type, order numbers, etc., as required by I. C. C. regulations, manufacturing practice and customers requirements. l-leretofore, such markings have been made by a workman placing a stencil on the article and then spraying paint thereon. Such procedure is objectionable for many reasons. It is of course expensive in that it frequently requires a workm'ans full time, the neatness of the marking depends on the workmans skill and care, and lastly if a large amount of spraying is done, special ventilation is required to safeguard the workers.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing disadvantages and provide a marker for cylindrical articles which is automatic in operation.

It is a further object to provide a marker which is simple in design but nevertheless rugged and durable in operation.

It is another object to provide a marker which can be used in conjunction with conventional mill equipment.

The foregoing and further objects will be apparent from the following specification when read in conjunction with the attached drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a conventional transfer table embodying the marker of my invention; and

Figure 2 is an end elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 2 designates conventional transfer table rails along which cylindrical articles W are adapted to roll from one station to another in the mill or to permit inspection thereof. The number of rails on the table depends on the length of the article being carried thereby. In accordance with the teachings of my invention, a marker 4 is interposed between a pair of the rails 2 so as to mark the cylindrical articles W as they roll therealong.

The marker 4 comprises two pairs of free running vertically disposed sprockets 6, 6 and 8, 8 having their upper surfaces slightly below the upper surfaces of the rails 2 and carrying endless chains In and I2. The sprockets may be keyed journaled in brackets l8 mounted beneath the rails 2.

Rotatably mounted between the chains In and I2 on suitable oppositely disposed brackets 20 is an automatic ink fountain 22 of conventional design. Also carried by the chains, are a plurality of oppositely disposed vertically projecting pairs of arms or driving dogs 24.

A type or die holder 26 is disposed between the shafts I4 and I6 and may conveniently be mounted on channels 28, extending between and welded or otherwise suitably secured to the rails 2 as at 30. The holder 26 carries type or dies for imprinting the desired insignia on the cylindrical articles rolled along the rails 2 and to do this the type or dies are of course disposed at an elevation slightly above the plane of the rails 2.

In operation, cylindrical articles W rolling along the rails 2 contact a pair of driving arms '24 to move the chains I0 and I2 and the automatic ink fountain 22 forwardly until the arms drop down over the forward sprockets 6 and B. This will move the next succeeding pair of arms up over the rearward sprockets 6', 8, so that they will be engaged by the next cylindrical article that rolls along the rails. In the preferred arrangement shown, there are three pairs of the driving arms 24 so that for each three articles rolled thereover, the chains will be advanced a complete rotation and thereby move the ink fountain over the die or type to wet or ink the same. That is to say, the fountain will automatically be driven over and wet the type or die each time three cylindrical articles are marked.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A marking device for cylindrical articles comprising a printing member adapted to be contacted by cylindrical articles as they roll thereover, endless chains disposed at both ends of said printing member, an inking member carried by said chains, and arms on said chains adapted to be engaged by cylindrical articles rolled over said printing member to actuate said chains and move said inking member over said printing member.

2. A marking device for cylindrical articles comprising rail members providing a rollerway for said articles, a printing member disposed beto shafts l4 and I6 which may conveniently be 86 tween said rail members and adapted to be contacted by cylindrical articles as they roll thereover, endless chains disposed at both ends of said printing member, an inking member carried by said chains, and arms on said chains adapted to be engaged by cylindrical articles rolled on said rails to actuate said chains and move said inking member over said printing member.

3. A marking device for cylindrical articles comprising a printing member adapted to be contacted by cylindrical articles as they roll thereover, endless chains disposed at both ends of over, endless chain means disposed at at least one end of said printing member, and means on said chain means adapted to be bodily engaged by cylindrical articles rolled over said printing member to actuate said chain means and move said inking member over said printing member.

RALPH A. PANNIER.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

said printing member, an inking member carried by said chains, and means on said chains adapted to be bodily engaged by cylindrical articles rolled over said printing member to actuate said chains and move said inking member over said printing member.

4. A marking device for cylindrical articles comprising a printing member adapted to be contacted by cylindrical articles as they roll there- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,193,297 Porcher Aug. 1, 1916 1,695,271 Caplinger Dec. 18, 1928 2,271,745 Peters Feb. 3, 1942 2,319,961 Vandercook May 25, 1943 2,385,462 Paxton Sept. 25, 1945 

